CORNVILLE — Daniel and Sharon Kinney, a well-known Cornville couple seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Madison, remain hospitalized in Bangor, with Daniel Kinney having lost his leg in the crash, the couple’s son said Wednesday.
Derrick Kinney said the family is heartened by the outpouring of support from the community for his parents, both 67, who have undergone surgeries at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center following the collision Friday. Daniel Kinney remains sedated, he said.
“Mom’s doing well,” he said. “She had a lot of hip surgery, hip, upper leg and lower back damage. She’s finally done with surgeries, but it will be a long recovery with healing and rehab. They’re thinking probably three months, but at least the surgeries are done with her.”
Kinney, 43, said his father is “at least stable — there’s no life-threatening surgeries that they need to do right now. They are letting him rest. He’s got a lot of damage to his face — nothing they can’t fix. His face surgeon is very optimistic. It will be a long recovery, but there’s no internal injuries to Dad as far as his organs. The biggest trauma is going to be him losing his leg. That’s going to be life-changing, for sure. But they’re alive.”
Edward McGuire, 62, of Bowdoin, fled the scene after the 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving failed to yield at a stop sign at about 5:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of state Route 43, also known as Horsetail Road, and Boardman Road in Madison, according to Michael Mitchell, chief deputy for the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office. Mitchell said the Jeep collided with the 1995 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle Daniel Kinney was driving and on which his wife was a passenger.
A witness followed the Jeep to Tupper Road in Madison and the witness and others held McGuire until law enforcement arrived, Mitchell said. McGuire was arrested and charged with aggravated operating under the influence, aggravated driving to endanger and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury, and taken to the Somerset County Jail in Madison where he remained Wednesday, according to Mitchell.
Mitchell said the crash remains under investigation and a sheriff’s report and state police reconstruction report will be completed and forwarded to the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.
Daniel Kinney worked for more than 20 years at the Skowhegan Highway Department where his brother, Don Kinney, is road commissioner. Sharon Kinney was animal control officer for both Skowhegan and Cornville and has been a driver for more than 40 years for Poland’s Bus Service in Skowhegan. Her husband also has been driving for Poland’s for the last two or three years, his son said.
A benefit for the Kinneys hosted by Poland’s owner, Don Poland, and the other bus drivers will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Poland’s Bus Garage at 13 Sesame St. in Skowhegan
Derrick Kinney said the crash occurred as his parents were on their way to Mammy’s Kitchen at Cloud’s Corner off U.S. Route 201 in Madison where they often go to eat on Friday nights. Kinney, who lives one house away from his parents in Cornville, went to the scene and was able to be with his parents, who remained conscious despite their injuries, he said.
“Dad never lost consciousness. I live just down the road and was there the whole time. He said, ‘It’s a white Jeep. They’ve got to find a white Jeep.'”
Kinney, a firefighter for 20 years, said that in the ambulance he called his sister, Stephanie, who was vacationing in Las Vegas, and she spoke with her father, who told her not to come home and just enjoy her vacation. The siblings also have a brother, Curt.
Kinney said his family is deeply moved by the generosity of the community.
“It’s hard to believe, the outreach of people,” he said. “I know that my parents are well-loved in the area. … Food has been showing up at the house. I haven’t had to make any meals for me and the kids. There are so many people that want to help.”
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